Pros

Cons

Few modules available at launch.
Uses hard drive instead of SSD storage.
Only 4GB of RAM.

Bottom Line

The HP Elite Slice is a modular small-form-factor business PC that can be used in conference rooms or at your employees' desks, and can be switched to different configurations in just seconds.

20 Jan 2017Joel Santo Domingo

The HP Elite Slice is a small-form-factor (SFF) business desktop with a unique design. It can be expanded with snug-fitting, stackable modules, including a conference-ready soundbar, an optical drive, a wireless phone charger, a conference audio control panel, and a VESA mount. The $699 base model comes sans modules, while the HP Slice for Meeting Rooms we tested goes for $949. This gives you a lot of leeway when configuring one, whether you want it to be a common line worker's desktop, a power user's home base, or a shared conference room PC.

Design and Features

Design is a highlight of the HP Elite Slice, starting with the dark charcoal-gray exterior with copper highlights. The overall look is similar to that of the pioneering Apple Mac mini, though a little more rounded. The Elite Slice's base unit measures 1.4 by 6.5 by 6.5 inches (HWD), a bit smaller in all directions than the Asus VivoMini VC65-G042Z, another highly rated SFF desktop, though extra modules will add to the height (more on that below). Copper fins, which cool the processor, are visible through a vent all around the perimeter of the case and add some visual pizzazz.

Connectivity options on the base unit are extensive. A headset jack and USB-C port are on the left side. On the back, you'll find a DisplayPort connector, an Ethernet jack, an HDMI port, the jack for the AC adapter, two USB 3.0 ports, and a USB-C port with DisplayPort capabilities for one-cable (power, audio, and video) connections to supported monitors. Wireless connectivity comes by way of 802.11ac and Bluetooth 4.1.

Modules and Configurations

Look at the bottom panel of the Elite Slice and you'll see a proprietary connector that explains its appeal. It's electrically (and functionally) USB-C, but it lets you stack modules below the base unit to increase usability. The Elite Slice for Meeting Rooms comes with the HP Audio Module connected (it's also available separately for $109); it's tuned for Web conferencing and has dual-array microphones installed, so it can replace the PBX-based conferencing system in a small-to-medium-size conference room (seating about two to 12 people). This Slice also includes the preinstalled Collaboration Cover, a top lid that has backlit Start/Stop Conference and volume touch controls embedded in it. The Cover is removable by an IT tech, but you can't buy it separately.

The Audio Module has excellent sound quality. It has its own DSP to prevent the CPU from being taxed during Web conferences, and Bang & Olufsen speakers. Sound quality is tuned for audio conferences, and I was able to communicate with a remote conference room easily during a demo, but it's also good for playing music and videos, with even a hint of low-end bass. The conference controls on the Collaboration Cover reacted quickly to taps, for execution such actions as muting the audio module's microphones and starting or stopping a Skype for Business conference.

Other modules add an optical drive ($99) and a VESA plate ($39) for mounting the Elite Slice (and any modules) to the back of a monitor or to your desk. One main benefit of the modules is that they lock together; one cable lock or the VESA mount can secure everything. Since the modular connector is based on USB-C, it has the potential to be used in the future for things like storage, network communication, and possibly even external graphics modules.

Our $949 Elite Slice for Meeting Rooms review unit comes with an Intel Core i5-6500T, 4GB of RAM (expandable up to 32GB total; there's one SO-DIMM slot free), a 500GB hard drive that can be swapped out for another SATA hard drive or SSD by your IT staff, and a three-year warranty including on-site service. But there are four preconfigured versions of the desktop other than the Meeting Rooms variation, ranging from an entry-level version with a Core i3-6100T processor, 4GB of RAM, and a 500GB hard drive ($699) up to one with a Core i7-6700T, 8GB RAM, and a 256GB SSD ($999); all come without the Audio Module and the Collaboration Cover, and run standard Windows 10 Pro. There's also one that is fully customizable.

Intel Unite

By default, the Elite Slice for Meeting Rooms boots into Intel Unite. This is an overlay on top of Windows 10, a collaboration environment that lets you share resources like video cameras, projectors, and displays in conference rooms. The Elite Slice is plugged in to, and controls, any displays and cameras. What's unique about Unite is that the Elite Slice host PC handles connections with your workers' laptops wirelessly. You won't have to spend 10 to 15 minutes at the start of the meeting figuring out which HDMI cable to hook up. Each participant in the meeting (whether local or remote) loads the Unite client app. Once ready, the Elite Slice displays a code on the shared monitor, and then allows the participants to run presentations, interact on Skype for Business calls, and even share the screens of multiple laptops simultaneously. As long as the participants are on an accessible network (local or VPN), they can access the meeting, even across different time zones. And one big plus is that, unlike with a Microsoft Surface Hub that's bolted to your wall, you can move the Elite Slice from a conference room to any office with a webcam-equipped monitor in a few minutes.

Our review unit comes with an unlocked version of Unite, for accessing the Windows 10 interface for our benchmark and hands-on testing. The Elite Slice for Meeting Rooms can be locked down so it boots into the Unite interface in Conference Room mode and can be used as a shared resource. Because Unite is designed to work on top of Windows 10 and interfaces with it as well as iOS and macOS, it may be an easier sell to conservative IT managers than cloud-based conference solutions like the Dell Chromebox for Meetings.

Performance

As configured here, the Elite Slice for Meeting Rooms achieved a score of 2,796 points on our PCMark 8 Work Conventional test, which is good but lagging compared with competitors like the Asus VivoMini VC65-G042Z (2,914), the Dell Optiplex 3040 Small Form Factor (3,087), and the top-scoring Polywell B150L2-i7 (3,511).

Likewise, the Elite Slice returned solid multimedia results on HandBrake (1 minute, 35 seconds), CineBench (446 points), and Photoshop (4:31), but it was slower than the Optiplex 3040 and the Polywell B150L2 on all three tests. The Polywell also swept the field with its 3D scores, but none of these computers should be considered for its gaming prowess. Suffice to say, they'll all be fine with less-taxing business graphics.

An Extensible Business Desktop

The HP Elite Slice works well as either a standalone desktop or as a shared conference resource. This flexibility is nice to have, though your IT buyer and manager will have to commit to a new ecosystem of parts and (presumably) service contracts.

Although it's configured for conference use, the system as presented is a bit short on RAM and would be better served by replacing the hard drive with a speedier SSD. That said, I really like the idea of something you can use for conferences in the morning and repurpose as a desk PC in minutes. The Polywell B150L2-i7 remains our Editors' Choice for midrange business desktops by virtue of its higher amount of RAM, faster SSD, Core i7 performance, and lower price ($799). But if your business needs to change the functionality of its PCs at a moment's notice, the Elite Slice is a good concept with potential for the future.

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Joel Santo Domingo is the Lead Analyst for the Desktops team at PC Magazine Labs. He joined PC Magazine in 2000, after 7 years of IT work for companies large and small. His background includes managing mobile, desktop and network infrastructure on both the Macintosh and Windows platforms. Joel is proof that you can escape the retail grind: he wore a yellow polo shirt early in his tech career. Along the way Joel earned a BA in English Literature and an MBA in Information Technology from Rutgers University. He is responsible for overseeing PC Labs testing, as well as formulating new test methodologies for the PC Hardware team. Along with ... More »